Pressure fluid cleaning device

ABSTRACT

In a pressure fluid cleaning device having a pump, a source of fluid, a motor for the pump, a speed control for the motor, a water gun having a pipe with a nozzle and connected to the pump, a fluid dump valve on the pipe and a normally open switch on the gun connected to the speed control; an improved control which includes a first grip depending from the valve including a valve control with a trigger pivotally mounted on the valve. A normally unseated valve assembly is provided within the valve and arranged so that retraction of the trigger closes the valve assembly blocking the dump valve. A second grip mounts the switch and includes a switch control adapted on movement to close the switch. A safety interlock is interposed between the valve control and the switch control so that the latter is actuated only after the valve is closed.

[451 May 27, 1975 [5 PRESSURE FLUID CLEANING DEVICE [76] Inventor: Phillip E. Tuttle, PO. Box 1213,

Lakeworth, Fla. 33460 [22] Filed: Jan. 2, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 430,153

[52] US. Cl. 239/124; 222/75; 222/331;

239/153; 239/447; 239/526; 417/33 [51] Int. Cl B051) 9/00 [58] Field of Search 239/124, 127, 436, 443,

Tuttle 239/127 Primary ExaminerM. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant ExaminerAndres Kashnikow Attorney, Agent, or Firm.Cullen, Settle, Sloman & Canton [57] ABSTRACT In a pressure fluid cleaning device having a pump, a source of fluid, a motor for the pump, a speed control for the motor, a water gun having a pipe with a nozzle and connected to the pump, a fluid dump valve on the pipe and a normally open switch on the gun connected to the speed control; an improved control which includes a first grip depending from the valve including a valve control with a trigger pivotally mounted on the valve. A normally unseated valve assembly is provided within the valve and arranged so that retraction of the trigger closes the valve assembly blocking the dump valve. A second grip mounts the switch and includes a switch control adapted on movement to close the switch; A safety interlock is interposed between the valve control and the switch control so that the latter is actuated only after the valve is closed.

' 8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PRIME I Mal ER /9 l7 PAsSuA FLU/0 7 SOURCE PATENTEI] HAY 2 7 I975 SHEET PATENTED HAY 2 7 I975 SHEET PRESSURE FLUID CLEANING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Hydraulic pressure cleaning devices have heretofore been designed such as shown in US. Pat. No. 3,690,558 and US. Pat. No. 3,147,767. These devices incorporate a water gun with a nozzle and including a dump valve together with a motor operated pumping device by which the motor operates at an idle speed in delivering a limited amount of fluid which is bypassed through the dump valve. A manual control is provided to close off the dump valve and at the same time close an electrical switch for accelerating the power means for driving the pump at an increased rate for delivering high water pressures through the gun and out its nozzle.

The problem has existed of a premature activation of the switch controlling the motor to the pump with the result that there is increased pressure provided before the bypass through the dump valve has been closed with the result that there may be a sharp recoil transmitted through the water gun which can be dangerous to the user of the device and may cause him to lose his balance. Other mechanisms have been provided by which in activating the device for blocking the dump valve, there has been a simultaneous activation of the control switch for accelerating the power means to the pump in such premature fashion as to also produce such shock or recoil.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION including a trigger and in conjunction with a safety interlock mechanism by which the switch which is adapted to energize the power source to increase its speed and, thus, increase water pressure will be activated only after the dump valve has been blocked.

It is another object to provide an improved control mechanism by which once the dump valve has been blocked the means foractuating the speed control for the prime move to the pump includes a radio sending unit for operating a remotely located radio receiver and switch to the speed control.

These and other objects will be seen from the following specification and claims in conjunction with the appended drawings:

THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. I is a partly sectioned side elevational view of the present pressure fluid cleaning device partly broken away and schematically illustrating the pump, the pressure source, the prime mover and the electrical control therefore.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the modified electri= cal control for the prime mover.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section on an increased scale illustrating the dump valve and valve assembly and con= trol therefore.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view partly broken away and corresponding to FIG. 1, showing a modification of the present pressure fluid cleaning device.

It will be understood that the above drawings illustrate merely a preferred embodiment of the invention, and that other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the claims hereafter set forth.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings, and particularly FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the present pressure fluid cleaning device 11 includes the schematically shown pump 13 with pressure fluid source 15 connected thereto. The prime mover 17 may be an electric motor or other type of motor. The speed control includes lever 19 operably connected to prime mover l7. Said lever is joined to the movable part of a speed control, such as the solenoid 21, by the link 27 grounded at 25.

The power output shaft 29 interconnects the prime mover with pump 13. With the prime mover in an idle or low speed condition, as shown in the drawing, pump 13 is delivering a limited quantity of pressure fluid through the outlet pipe 41 to the gun 11 and its delivery pipe 35. The speed control is mounted on the support 23, fragmentarily shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, there is provided a normally open electric switch or limit switch 31 disposed within hand grip 83 connected to a suitable power source. Conduit 33 interconnects said switch and solenoid 21. The water gun, generally indicated at 35, includes an elongated pipe 37 with suitable fitting 39 receiving conduit 41 from the pump 13.

High pressure nozzle 43 is mounted upon the free end of water pipe 37 and is adapted to deliver water under a pressure in the range of 2,000 to l0,000

pounds per square inch to function as a high pressure fluid cleaning device.

A normally open dump valve is mounted on and is in communication with water pipe 37 upstream of nozzle 43. Said dump valve includes valve body 45 interposed in water pipe 37 with communication established through valve body passage 47 and connections 49. First hand grip 51 is secured to and depends from valve body 45. The dump valve body includes apertured fitting 53 for communication with dump valve outlet 55. A suitable bracket 57 is interposed between dump valve outlet 55 and grip 51.

The dump valve has a longitudinal bore 59 which communicates with the dump valve seat 63 and is adapted to receive a valve assembly. Passage 65 within body 45 establishes fluid communication between valve body passage 47 and bore 59. Seat 63 is provided at the inner end of fitting 53 in communication with bore 59.

The present valve assembly includes the axially apertured normally unseateci float valve 61 loosely nested within bore 59. Said valve is adapted on movement to register at one end with seat 63. At its other end there is provided a valve seat 69 adapted for registry with control valve 73. The latter valve is guidably positioned within the valve body and extends into bore 59 for registry with the float valve on longitudinal inward move= ment.

The outer end of control valve 73 projects through the wall of the valve body for operative engagement with cantilever 75 forming a part of valve control 77.

Said valve control is pivotally mounted at 79 upon the valve body and terminates at its lower end in the normally open trigger 81 corresponding to the dotted line position thereof in FIG. 1, being the first position of said trigger. Upon manual movement of the trigger 81 from the dotted line position to the solid line position shown, or second position, the valve control 77 moves in a clockwise direction operatively engaging the control valve 73 so that it seats with respect to the float valve 61. Continued movement successively causes seating of the float valve with respect to seat 63. This closes off flow of fluid from passage 65 through dump valve outlet 55.

An axial slot 71 is formed through the float valve, FIG. 1, and has communication with bore 59 so as to equalize pressure upon opposite sides of the float valve. By this construction with such equalized pressure, it takes little force on the trigger 81 to hold the same in the second or closed operative position cutting off flow of fluid through the dump valve. With this bypass blocked, flu-id flows through pipe 37, nozzle 43.

Second grip 83 is adjustably secured at 84 upon pipe 37 rearwardly of grip 51. The aforementioned normally open switch 31 is disposed within the lower portion of grip 83 and by electrical conduit 33 is connected to the speed control solenoid 21. Switch control arm 85 is mounted upon the forward side of grip 83 and pivotally connected thereto at 87. It has a first inoperative position where its lower end is normally spaced from the normally open switch 31.

The safety interlock bar or pin 91 is slidably supported upon the pin slide support 93 anchored upon pipe 37. Its respective opposite ends are operatively interposed between valve control 77 and a free end portion of the switch control 85. By this construction, the safety pin 91 locks the switch control 85 against manual adjustment clockwise unless and until and after the valve control has been moved to an operative position seating the valve assembly within valve body 45. This is for the primary purpose of preventing a premature closing of the switch 31 for accelerating the prime mover and increasing the output pressure and volume from pump 13.

Support 97 is spaced rearwardly of grip 83 and depends from pipe 37 and is adjustably secured thereto at 99. Said support at its lower end portion mounts the flexible yielding shoulder rest 95. In operation, the user of the pressure fluid cleaning device may bring the shoulder rest 95 against his shoulder during operation with one hand, grasping grip 83 and with the other hand grasping grip 51.

The normally open switch 31 may operate the speed control solenoid 21 in an indirect manner such as employing a suitable radio sending unit 101, schematically shown, FIG. 2. Switch 105 is connected to the speed control solenoid 21 and, in turn, is connected to the radio receiver 103 which is remote from the radio sending unit 101. The operation is the same, since upon closing of the switch 31 by manual grasping of the switch control 85, the radio sending unit 101 is activated. Its signal istransmitted to the radio receiver 103, controlling switch 105 to solenoid 21 corresponding to the illustration in FIG. 1.

MODIFICATION A modified form of the present mechanism is shown in FIG. 4, schematically, indicating simply the support 107 corresponding to grip 83 of FIG. 1, but with the shoulder support -97 omitted. Here instead of operating the switch 31 by the switch control arm 85, the shoulder control 111 is employed. The support 107 has a sleeve 109 thereon for sliding adjustments upon gun pipe 37 'and for anchoring as at 99, FIG. 4. The shoulder control 111 actuated by pressure from the users shoulder, is mounted upon the shoulder control arm 113 which is pivotally mounted at 115 upon support 107. It is normally arranged so that its freeend is spaced from the normally open electrical control switch 31 nested in support 107.

The shoulder control arm 113 is normally retained in such inoperative position by the corresponding safety shaft 119, similar to the safety pin 91 of FIG. 1. Here the safety shaft at one end is slidably mounted upon a corresponding bracket 93 anchored to the water pipe 37. The other end of the safety interlock shaft 119 is guidably positioned through a transverse bore 117 within support 107.

Therefore, the safety interlock shaft 119 is normally and operatively interposed between valve control 77 and the switch control 113. Accordingly, the switch 31 may not be closed until after the trigger 81 has been retracted to the solid line position shown in FIG. 1. Thereafter and successively by application of pressure of the users shoulder upon the shoulder control 111, the shoulder control arm 113 is rotated clockwise and is free for such movement as will close the switch 31 to accelerate the motor 17.

By this construction, the switch 31 normally regulating the speed control may not be closed or activated until after the dumping valve 45 has been closed off. Operation of the speed control speeds up the motor so that fluid under high pressure now passes through the nozzle 43 on gun pipe 37, FIG. 1. This pressure could be in the range of 1,000 to 20,000 pounds per square inch.

Having described my invention, reference should mow be had to the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a pressure fluid cleaning device having a pump connected to a source of fluid and having an outlet, a prime mover driveably connected to said pump, an electrically controlled speed control connected to said prime mover, a water gun having a pipe and an outlet nozzle for ejection of fluid under pressure, a conduit between said pump outlet and pipe, a normally open dump valve on and in communication with the pipe upstream of said nozzle, and a normally open electric switch on the gun for operating said speed control, the improvement comprising:

a first grip depending from said pipe;

a valve control pivotally mounted on said valve including a depending trigger arranged forward of said grip and having a first inoperative position;

a normally unseated valve assembly within said dump valve;

said trigger having a second retracted position with said valve control operably engaging and seating said valve assembly cutting off flow through said dump valve;

a second grip spaced rearwardly of said firstgrip secured to and depending from said pipe, said switch being mounted on said second grip;

a switch control pivotally mounted on said second grip having a first inoperative position with one end spaced from said switch, and movable to a second position to close said switch;

and a safety pin slidably mounted upon said pipe and at its ends interposed between and engaging said valve control and said switch control normally retaining said switch control in its first position; whereby retraction of said trigger to its second position releases said pin so that said switch control may be successively moved to a second position to energize said speed control to shift said prime mover from idling to maximum speed for ejection of fluid through said nozzle at an increased predetermined pressure.

2. In the pressure fluid cleaning device of claim 1, a support with a shoulder rest spaced rearwardly of said second grip, adjustably secured to and depending from said pipe.

3. In the pressure fluid cleaning device of claim 1, said dump valve including a body having a bore in communication with said pipe and an apertured seat terminating in an outlet; said valve assembly including an apertured float valve movable in said bore normally spaced at one end from said seat and having a seat at its other end; a control valve guidably mounted in said body extending into said bore normally spaced from the float valve seat; said control valve extending outwardly of said body into engagement with said valve control, whereby when said trigger is manually moved to its second position, said valve control axially moves said control valve to seat against said float valve which successively seats within said body.

4. ln the fluid pressure cleaning device of claim 3, there being an axial passage through said float valve for equalizing fluid pressure on opposite ends of said float valve and within said bore.

5. In the pressure fluid cleaning device of claim 1, the mounting of said safety pin including an apertured bracket mounted on and depending from said pipe rearwardly of said valve control.

6. In the pressure fluid cleaning device of claim 1, the operable connection of said switch to said speed control including a radio signal sending unit connected to said switch; a switch for said speed control; and a radio receiver connected to said speed control switch remote from and responsive to a signal from said radio sending unit.

7. In the pressure fluid cleaning device of claim 1, the switch control on said second grip including a shoulder control on and extending rearwardly of said switch control adapted for moving the switch control once it is released by said valve control and safety pin.

8. In the pressure fluid cleaning device of claim 7, the mounting of said safety pin including an apertured bracket secured to and depending from said pipe rearwardly of said valve control receiving one end of said safety pin, the other end of said pin being slidably mounted on said second grip. 

1. In a pressure fluid cleaning device having a pump connected to a source of fluid and having an outlet, a prime mover driveably connected to said pump, an electrically controlled speed control connected to said prime mover, a water gun having a pipe and an outlet nozzle for ejection of fluid under pressure, a conduit between said pump outlet and pipe, a normally open dump valve on and in communication with the pipe upstream of said nozzle, and a normally open electric switch on the gun for operating said speed control, the improvement comprising: a first grip depending from said pipe; a valve control pivotally mounted on said valve including a depending trigger arranged forward of said grip and having a first inoperative position; a normally unseated valve assembly within said dump valve; said trigger having a second retracted position with said valve control operably engaging and seating said valve assembly cutting off flow through said dump valve; a second grip spaced rearwardly of said first grip secured to and depending from said pipe, said switch being mounted on said second grip; a switch control pivotally mounted on said second grip having a first inoperative position with one end spaced from said switch, and movable to a second position to close said switch; and a safety pin slidably mounted upon said pipe and at its ends interposed between and engaging said valve control and said switch control normally retaining said switch control in its first position; whereby retraction of said trigger to its second position releases said pin so that said switch control may be successively moved to a second position to energize said speed control to shift said prime mover from idling to maximum speed for ejection of fluid through said nozzle at an increased predetermined pressure.
 2. In the pressure fluid cleaning device of claim 1, a support with a shoulder rest spaced rearwardly of said second grip, adjustably secured to and depending from said pipe.
 3. In the pressure fluid cleaning device of claim 1, said dump valve including a body having a bore in communication with said pipe and an apertured seat terminating in an outlet; said valve assembly including an apertured float valve movable in said bore normally spaced at one end from said seat and having a seat at its other end; a control valve guidably mounted in said body extending into said bore normally spaced from the float valve seat; said control valve extending outwardly of said body into engagement with said valve control, whereby when said trigger is manually moved to its second position, said valve control axially moves said control valve to seat against said float valve which successively seats within said body.
 4. In the fluid pressure cleaning device of claim 3, there being an axial passage through said float valve for equalizing fluid pressure on opposite Ends of said float valve and within said bore.
 5. In the pressure fluid cleaning device of claim 1, the mounting of said safety pin including an apertured bracket mounted on and depending from said pipe rearwardly of said valve control.
 6. In the pressure fluid cleaning device of claim 1, the operable connection of said switch to said speed control including a radio signal sending unit connected to said switch; a switch for said speed control; and a radio receiver connected to said speed control switch remote from and responsive to a signal from said radio sending unit.
 7. In the pressure fluid cleaning device of claim 1, the switch control on said second grip including a shoulder control on and extending rearwardly of said switch control adapted for moving the switch control once it is released by said valve control and safety pin.
 8. In the pressure fluid cleaning device of claim 7, the mounting of said safety pin including an apertured bracket secured to and depending from said pipe rearwardly of said valve control receiving one end of said safety pin, the other end of said pin being slidably mounted on said second grip. 